Saudi Arabian giants Jeddah United have announced that they have parted ways with their 59-year-old first-team coach Laurent Blanc, whose term was originally scheduled to last until 2026, but the recent defeat to Al Riyadh was the final straw.

The announcement read: "Jeddah United FC announces that it has terminated the contract with first team coach Laurent Blanc and his coaching staff. The club's board of directors sincerely thanks them for their efforts over the past period and wishes them all the best in the future."

Jeddah United have not yet decided on a replacement for Brown. In a statement, they said: "The club's management has decided to appoint assistant coach Hassan Khalifa as first team coach, assisted by U21 coach Ivan Carrasco. This temporary appointment will remain in place until the club reaches an agreement with a new team that aligns with the club's vision and achieves the team's goals and the expectations of its loyal fans."

Blanc , a member of France's 1998 World Cup-winning team, transitioned to coaching after retiring in 2003. He has coached Bordeaux, the France national team, Paris Saint-Germain, Rayyan Sports, and Lyon, leading his teams to four Ligue 1 titles, two French Cups, four French League Cups, and five French Super Cups.

In July 2024, Brown officially replaced Nuno as the head coach of Jeddah United. To date, he has led the team to a record of 35 wins, 5 draws and 6 losses, winning the Saudi League and the Saudi Cup.